Transplantation: Prisoners of conscience are killed for their organs in China

Transplantation: China is the only country in the world systematically using organs from prisoners for transplantation, Professor Huige Li reports. For over 40 years, executed prisoners were used as the main organ source in China. It´s a profitable international business. A number of Chinese Hospitals claimed that they could provide liver transplants in the time range between 3 to 30 days.

The report appeared in "Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial Aspects of Transplantation", edited by E.K. Massey, F. Ambagtsheer, W. Weimar.

"In December 2014, China announced to stop the use of prisoner organs but, at the same time, to allow prisoners to ´voluntarily´ donate organs. The December 2014 announcement is neither a law nor a regulation. There have been no changes to organ donations since the announcement. The use of prisoner organs remains legal in China and has not been stopped.

In addition, mounting evidence suggests that prisoners of conscience are killed for their organs. Organ procurement from prisoners of conscience was not addressed by the announcement."